Why Is Self-Control Important?

Self-control can look like standing up against the temptation to lie at work or any other sin. Self-control can also look like saying no to one more chocolate. The clearest definition of self-control is a well-defined use of the word “no.” As we set off to make a life, we have to discover who God made us to be and who God didn’t make us to be. You and I could probably work hard and become a seasoned employee at a restaurant or basket weaving factory (No offense if you are one of those), but if that’s not what God designed us to do, we will always feel unfulfilled in life. To become who God made us to be, we need to exercise self-control and resist the urge to grasp for things that will get in the way of us becoming that.

Self-control is not just saying no to something you want; it’s saying yes to something you want more.

If we expand our perspective on decisions, we can see that choices are more complicated than a simple binary yes or no. The choices we make today affect other choices and options we will have later. Our “no” today can save time and resources for a “yes” tomorrow. On the other hand, a “yes” today could enable a “yes” for tomorrow and a “no” could force a future “no.” If we say yes to four years of hard work for a Bachelor’s degree, it gives us the opportunity to say yes to a wider range of future jobs or a Master’s degree. A no to a late-night party could mean a no to a future invitation. In every decision we must determine what the long-range outcomes will be and if those outcomes are the ones we want. Every decision, short term or long term, has long term implications. We need to know ourselves so we can say yes to the things that God has for us while saying no to the things that aren’t part of our make up.

Determine who you are and be that. Knowing what is right always precedes making a profit. So long as you are not lazy in your pursuit of who God made you to be (and most likely God has not called you to play video games), God will provide a way for you to make a living doing what He designed you to do. Work hard. Say no to laziness and things that God didn't create you to do. You can become who God made you to be by simply not doing things that are not in alignment with what God made you to be. Because when you do that, you will have the time and resources to say yes to all that God has for you.

You are the best you there is. You will always be second best at being someone else. 

When we try to be someone we are not, we lose out on being the person God made us to be. Self-control empowers you to be the best person you can be. Saying no to things that don’t align with what you are designed to do allows you to become who you were meant to be. You expect others to have self-control; you should expect yourself to be able to have self-control. Stepping out your door or driving down the road puts you in a place where you have to trust others are going to have some measure of self-control to abide by the rules of society. To exist in this world, you have to have at least a minimal practice of self-control. The deeper your commitment to self-control in your own life, the more direction and influence you will have. As with anything else in life, God doesn’t want you to have self-control for your own sake, He wants you to be able to teach others about self-control. The more you learn self-control for yourself, the more you will be equipped to teach others.